Our away form is bettered only by Morecambe, winners at our hosts on Tuesday, and Southport's home form reflects their position at second bottom with just two wins on home turf all season.
By all accounts Southport did play better than in recent weeks against Morecambe. So much so that their manager Paul Cook came out with this optimistic quote: "If we play as we did on Boxing Day, and we take our chances, I can only see one team getting the three points and it won't be Kidderminster Harriers"
White coat anyone?
We had no obvious injuries from Stafford so we should, again, have a full squad to choose from. Rob Davies will be back in contention for a starting spot after sitting on the bench last time out but has been warned by the Harriers manager, Mark Yates, that he has to fight for his place along with everyone else.
My own view on this is that Southport are going to be a very similar team to Stafford and the pitch is also going to be on the heavy side so Davies is going to be out of place in a side that, unable to play a fluent passing game, are going to have to resort to long ball tactics again.
This game will also mark the last day of Iyseden Christie's loan period from League 2 side Rochdale but this will be sorted out in one way or another soon. It's obvious to all that we need to keep Issey as long as possible being our leading scorer but with the temporary lack of a manager at Spotland it'll be down to caretaker manager Keith Hill to decide where the Coventry born strikers future lies.
It may cost us a transfer fee but it's a necessary evil that will have to be resolved.
Southport have a few injury problems with Liam Blakeman sidelined with a fractured cheekbone and Joe Fowler picked up a knee injury in the game against Morecambe. He's receiving treatment for that but may not be fit enough.
I reckon we could get all the points on offer in this game and then, hopefully, repeat that again when we play Cambridge Utd on New Years Day. What a way to celebrate the New Year.
Teams:
Harriers from:
Bevan, S Taylor, Harkness, Kenna, Haworth, Creighton, Whitehead, McGrath, Sedgemore, Hurren, Russell, Penn, Reynolds, Blackwood, Davies, B Taylor, Smikle, Christie, Constable, White.
Southport from:
Harrison, Bagnall, Dubourdeau, Lane, Hoolickin, Powell, Lee, Boyd, Baker, Gray, Maamria, Olsen, Paterson, Rowland, Donnelly, Doherty, Fowler, Clancy, Barry, Bromilow, Tait, Kirkup.